LAHORE: The Punjab government on Monday challenged in Lahore High Court (LHC) a ban imposed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on fresh recruitment in all government departments of the country ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
The Punjab chief secretary through a lawyer filed the constitutional petition, challenging the restrictions on recruitment of public servants.
The petition states that the electoral body cannot restrict the executive authorities from exercising its powers which are in accordance with the Constitution.
The top bureaucrat, in the petition, further said that the restrictions have adversely impacted the working of government departments in the province.
The petitioner argued that it is imperative to have a required workforce for the smooth discharge of administrative duties.
He, therefore, requested the court to set aside the ECP’s notification with regard to the ban.
On April 11, the electoral body banned fresh government jobs with effect from April 01. All federal and provincial authorities were issued directives to strictly comply with the restrictions, said the notification issued by the ECP.
The notification further added the ban is aimed to ensure transparency in the general elections scheduled around August this year.